Video: Don Jackson was once the most famous skater in the world, a history-maker who cemented his legend by nailing the Triple Lutz in 1962

TORONTO — Don Jackson had a worried look on his face as he rushed around Forest Hill Memorial Arena on a December afternoon, searching for something he never forgets but appeared to have forgotten on this day.

And so he checked his car, double-checked his skate bag and, finally, sensing defeat, called his wife, Barbara, at their home — a 45-minute drive away — to ask her the question he already knew the answer to:

“Did I leave my skates at home?”

Indeed, he did. Don Jackson, the 1962 men’s figure skating world champion, a 1960 Olympic bronze medalist, the first skater to land a Triple Lutz in international competition and, at age 77, a kindly coach to a bunch of ankle-skating-three-and-four-year-old-kids, had forgotten his skates. The crisis was resolved moments before class when a fellow coach handed Jackson a spare pair of “Don Jackson” brand figure skates — with his name etched in the blade.

“These are the right skates,” Jackson said, laughing. “They’ve got my name on them.”

Skates named after Don Jackson, the 1962 world figure skating champion.

They were a size and a half too big, but still. Jackson and his younger brother, Bill, partnered with Bauer to manufacture Don Jackson skates beginning in 1966. The business thrived. And no wonder: the elderly skating coach was once the most famous skater in the world — a history-maker who cemented his legend by successfully nailing the Triple Lutz at the 1962 worlds.

A Lutz jump was something rare and tricky: to execute it a skater must rotate counter-clockwise in the air. Jackson’s Triple Lutz was monumental, because he pulled it off during one of the greatest come-from-behind victories in the history of his sport.

The scene was Prague, Czechoslovakia, and an arena jammed with 18,000 people. Millions more were watching on TV. Dick Button, a two time Olympic champion, was commenting for ABC. Jackson’s chief rival, Karol Divin — the local hero — had a commanding lead.

And then came the 21-year-old Canadian.

“My music started, and I took a deep breath,” Jackson says. “My first jump was the Triple Lutz. All I could think of was — think of your arms, bend your knee, keep your head up and rotate.

“All the rhythm was there for me, and I did it, and I was happy, but after I landed all I could think of was, ‘concentrate,’ because I remembered one boy landing a triple jump and falling right after, because he looked over at his girlfriend in the crowd.”

Don Jackson’s medals, and a collection of old photographs he has kept through the years.

Jackson kept jumping and landing in Prague, and ended his routine to a standing ovation. Button encouraged him to take a bow. Jackson politely declined. It was a competition, and it wasn’t over. Meanwhile, back in the dressing room, the skaters anxiously awaited the final tallying of results. Divin, the Czech favourite, approached the Canadian.

“Karol said, ‘Don, that’s the best skating I’ve ever seen. You know, I could still win the gold medal — but if I win it, I am going to give it to you.’

“I still get a lump in my throat thinking about that.”

Jackson turned pro after Prague. His was the age of true amateurism, and as an amateur he could not accept a gift greater in value than $50. His brother, Bill, was headed to university. His parents, George and Pat, had poured every nickel they had into his career. Even the Canadian figure skating officials encouraged their star to forget further amateur glory and cash in while he could. So Jackson signed a contract with the Ice Follies for $60,000 a year (or about $500,000 today).

“I would have loved to have stayed and represented Canada again at the 1964 Olympics,” he says. “I may not have won, who knows? But I’ll never know.”

Jackson wears his old McGregor-brand, “nylon anti-freeze” Team Canada warm-up jacket from the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics on teaching days. It is the only clue to his illustrious pedigree, and one Yael Jakubovic, one of the moms at Forest Hill, overlooked. Hadar Jakubovic is one of Jackson’s students. Hadar is three. Her favourite colour is pink. Hadar didn’t like skating until she met her new teacher.

“One day this old guy shows up,” her mother recalls. “I had no idea who Don Jackson was. I had to Google him. But our daughter talks about Don all the time. She loves coming to skating now. He even wore a funny wig on Halloween — and he never stops smiling.”

Well, almost never.

The great leaper and lander of the Triple Lutz has been permanently grounded. Jackson underwent hip replacement surgery in the spring.

“I’ll never be able to jump again,” he says. “There is a little sadness about it, but not really. I am just happy I can still be on the ice.”

Jackson’s inability to execute the Triple Lutz didn’t appear to bother little Hadar Jakubovic. The tot hugged the 1962 world champion at the end of her lesson.

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